Swim trainer



Feb. 3, 1959 J VAN yo s 2,871,491

SWIM TRAINER Filed April 10, 1956 INVFNTOR. 47 .2762: Van 7/0219? ATTORNEYS United States Patent- SWIM TRAINER John Van Vorst, Herkim er, N. Y.

Application April 10, 1956, Serial No. 577,404

1 Claim. (Cl. 9-17) This invention relates to devices for training children to swim, and in particular includes a body float with inflatable arm and leg units connected to the body float straps and in which the body float is provided with straps for securing the device on the underside of the body.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for training a child to swim in which the body of the child is retained in a horizontal position whereby the arms and legs are free to pass through the motions of swimming.

Various types of buoyant devices have been provided for assisting children in swimming, however, with most devices of this type there is a possibility of the child freeing himself from the device or of the device becoming dislocated on the child making it possible for the head to be held in the water before rescue could be accomplished. With this though in mind this invention contemplates a device to be used for training children to swim in which the child is positioned upon a mat with the arms and legs retained in inflated sleeves whereby the child is retained in a horizontal position and wherein it is substantially impossible for the device to turn over.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a swim training device in whicha child is retained in a horizontal position and in which the body of a child is positioned upon a buoyant mat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for training children to swim in which the device is adapted to be fully inflated at the beginning of the swimming lessons and wherein after the child gains confidence air may be gradually drawn from the device whereby the child supports himself by swimming.

A further object of the invention is to provide a float for training children to swim in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a mat formed of tubes adapted to be inflated with the tubes separated providing inde pendent sections as a precaution against air escaping from the device and arm and leg units also formed with inflated tubular sections and connected by a strap to the body portion or mat whereby with a child positioned on the mat and having his arms and legs extended through said arm and leg units the child is retained in a horizontal position upon the surface of water.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved swim trainer.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device taken on line 2-2 of Fig, 1 with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the body supporting mat taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a cross section through one of the leg 2,811,491 Pat n ed Feb. 3, 1959 ice units of the device also showing the parts on an enlarged sca e.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts they improved device for use in training children to swim includes a body mat 10 formed with an upper layer of material 11 and a lower layer 12 with'the layers connected at points 13 providing tubes 14 and with edges of the layers also connected providing flanges 15 and 16 at the sides and 17 and 18 at the ends, and arm units 19 and 20 extended from one end and leg units 21 and 22 extended from the opposite end, the units 19 and 21 being connected to the body mat with a continuous or unitary strap 23 and the units 20 and 22 being connected to the body mat with a continuous or unitary strap 24.

The body mat 10 is formed in two sections with the sections divided by a continuous seam 25, similar to the parts 13 and each section is provided with an inflating valve, a valve 26 being positioned in the section on one side and a similar valve 27 in the section on the opposite side.

The body mat is also provided with mounting straps 28 and 29 having fastening elements 30 and 31 therein extended from one side and corresponding straps 32 and 33 with fastening elements 34 and 35, respectively therein extended from the opposite side.

The straps 23 and 24 are provided with buckles 36 and 37 and ends of the straps, extended through the buckles are retained in bands 38 and 39. Similar buckles and bands are provided at the ends of the strap 24. The leg units 21 and 22 are provided with short straps 40, ends of which extend through the buckles 36 and bands 38 and the arm units 19 and 20 are provided with similar straps 41 that extend through the buckles 37 and bands 39, as shown in Fig. 2.

The connections between the tubes of the body mat on one side of the center are connected with openings 42 whereby air circulates through the tubes of the section and the section on the opposite side is provided with similar openings 43. The leg and arm units are provided with similar openings 44 whereby air circulates through the tubes 45 and 46 on opposite sides of the unit, each side of the arm and leg units being separated by solid connections 47 and each side being provided with inflating valves 48 and 49 in the leg units and similar valves 50 and 51 in the arm units.

Upper edges of the leg units are connected with webs 52 and upper edges of the arm units are connected with similar webs 53.

By this means should any portion of the swim training device he punctured, torn, or broken there Will be sufflcient buoyancy in the remaining portions to support the body of a child in a horizontally disposed position.

With the device strapped upon the body of a child the body is retained in a horizontal position whereby the arm and leg movements may be practiced until perfect and as perfection is achieved air may be released from the units through the valves and after complete confidence is obtained the device may be deflated and eventually removed.

The parts may be made of rubberized fabric, plastic or other suitable material.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the de sign and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a swimming device, a body mat embodying a plu rality of inflatable tubes, there being openings establishing communication between the tubes of the body mat whereby air can circulate through the tubes, said body mat including a pair of sections divided by a continuous seam, each of said sections being provided with an invalves, upper edges of the leg units being connected with flating valve, said 'body mat being provided with mount- Webs, and the upper edges of the arm units being also ing straps having fastening elements thereon, arm units connected with webs.

extended from one end of the body mat, leg units extended from the pp end of the y the 5 References Cited in the file of this patent units being connected to the body mat with unitary straps, the leg and arm units being provided with open- UNITED STATES PATENTS ings for the circulation therethrough of air, each side 18,809 Gibson Dec. 8, 1857 of the arm and leg units being separated by solid con- 1,587,605 Scroggins June 8, 1926 nections and each side being provided with inflating 10 1,611,427 Evans Dec. 21, 1926 

